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SAN DIEGO -- The Los Angeles Chargers return to the field for the final week of organized team activities this week.
Reporters will have access to practice on Tuesday, so we'll get a chance to see if rookie receiver Mike Williams has made it back onto the field after dealing with back tightness the past few weeks.
The Chargers conclude offseason work with a mandatory minicamp June 13-15. All three of those practices will be open to reporters.
Let's get to this week's mailbag:
@eric_d_williams Who is in line to replace Woodhead's spot if anybody? I thought they might have drafted McCaffery to replace him.
@eric_d_williams: Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey would have made sense for the Chargers, but of course they took Williams at No. 7 and the Carolina Panthers grabbed McCaffrey with the very next pick.
As I wrote last week, third-year pro Branden Oliver will fill some of the void left by talented pass-catching back Danny Woodhead signing with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.
Woodhead was a versatile performer for the Chargers when healthy because of his ability to run in between the tackles and make defenders miss out in the open field as a receiver.
However, the 32-year-old Woodhead basically missed two of the last three seasons because of injury, and one of head coach Anthony Lynn's priorities has been finding more durable players at every position group.
For now, Oliver and free-agent signee Kenjon Barner will get the first chance to replace Woodhead's production as a complementary back to workhorse Melvin Gordon. New running backs coach Alfredo Roberts does a nice job of breaking down his position group here.
ESPN NFL fantasy writer Mike Clay projects Oliver to rack up 96 touches for 432 total yards from scrimmage. I believe Oliver will easily surpass that if he stays healthy.
Another player to watch is Andre Williams. A powerful runner, Williams should spell Gordon on early downs if he makes the roster, lessening the load for the Wisconsin product so that he can stay healthy through the duration of a long season.
@eric_d_williams Do you think the two rookies (Feeney and Lamp) look ready to jump into the starting line up to start the year?
@eric_d_williams:Lynn had positive things to say about first-round selection Forrest Lamp and third-round selection Dan Feeney when asked about the two rookies a few weeks ago.
As it stands, Freeney is working with the second unit at right guard and Feeney with the second group at left guard. Feeney also has seen time at center.
The focus for both during the offseason is to pick up the offense as quickly as possible so they can compete for time with the starters once training camp begins, so the next two weeks is truly a time for teaching and learning.
Lynn said he will get a better sense for where both fit once training camp begins at the end of July, when the Chargers put the pads on.
However, so far folks in the organization like what they have seen from Lamp and Feeney. They have the talent and potential to work their way into the starting lineup. But like every other player on the 90-man roster, the two rookies will have to prove it on the field.
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